Centenary University


Centenary University is a private liberal arts university in Hackettstown, New Jersey. Founded in 1867 by the Newark Conference of the United Methodist Church, Centenary has evolved from a coeducational preparatory school to a girls' preparatory school, a junior college for women, a four-year women's college, a coeducational baccalaureate-degree-granting institution a master-degree-granting institution, and most recently a university. With the 2016 change, the institution went from being "Centenary College of New Jersey" to "Centenary University." In 1999, Centenary founded the Center for Adult and Professional Studies program. In 2011, the program was renamed the School of Professional Studies. Centenary's main campus is located in Hackettstown.

History

Centenary was founded as the Centenary Collegiate Institute by the Newark Methodist Episcopal Church in 1867. It was built at a cost of $200,000. George H. Whitney, D.D., was president from 1869 to 1895.
In 1886, a 19 year old kitchen worker named Tillie Smith was "outraged" and murdered in a field just off campus. A janitor named James Titus was convicted of the crime based on circumstantial evidence strongly influenced by yellow journalism. Authors and historians generally consider this to be a false conviction but debate over the facts continue perennially through dark tourism ghost tours, theatrical performances, books and Weird NJ magazine articles.
On Halloween night, 1899, the original Centenary Collegiate Institute building, where the Seay Administration building is now, burned to the ground in a fire.

General

Centenary offers undergraduate and graduate studies. In 2016, Centenary reported enrollment of 1,238 traditional full-time and 110 part-time undergraduate students, and 1,126 adult accelerated and graduate students. Centenary was the first college in the State of New Jersey to require service education as a condition of graduation.
Centenary is located in a suburban setting in Warren County, New Jersey, 52 miles west of New York City, 35 miles southeast of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, and 26 miles northeast of Easton, Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley.

Accreditation

Centenary University is a member of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Centenary is also accredited by the National Association of State Directors for Teacher Education and Certification. Centenary has fully accredited status from the Teacher Education Accreditation Council, full accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education, and specialized accreditation from the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education.

Main campus and learning centers

Centenary University Main campus is located in Hackettstown, New Jersey. The Centenary Equestrian Center located in Long Valley provides riding and education facilities for its Equine Studies Department. The college also operates two satellite learning centers located in Parsippany and Edison, New Jersey to service its adult student programs.

Hackettstown Campus

The main campus of Centenary University is home to most of Centenary's academic, administrative, athletic and collegiate activities, as well as housing for its undergraduate students. It consists of ten main buildings and eight residence buildings.

Buildings

The Equestrian Center is located in Long Valley, New Jersey. It consists of several large paddocks, an outdoor eventing course, two indoor arenas and one outdoor arena. The Equestrian Center sits on of land.
In 2007 and 2012 Centenary Equestrian Center hosted the American National Riding Commission Championships, Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Zone Finals, and the Intercollegiate Dressage Association Championships.

Parsippany Center

The Parsippany campus is home to Centenary's School of Professional Studies faculty and staff. This location boasts a small cafe, offices for staff, a student computer lab, a student workroom, and 13 classrooms operating with a broadband WiFi network. Classes take place in the evening for the benefit of working professionals.

Edison Center

The Edison office serves as a satellite location for the Centenary School of Professional Studies. This location consists of six classrooms, two offices, a small conference room, a small dinette, a student work room, and a wireless broadband network. The building complex hosts a cafeteria and ample parking.

Athletics

Centenary University teams participate in eight NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports. The Cyclones joined the Colonial States Athletic Conference for the 2007–08 season, after having been a member of the Skyline Conference. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, equestrian, golf, lacrosse, soccer and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, equestrian, lacrosse, soccer, softball and volleyball. Students enrolled in the college's Equine programs may participate in competitions through intercollegiate organizations such as the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, the Intercollegiate Dressage Association, or with the Hunter/Jumper's Club.

Noted athletic achievements

In 2009 Centenary's Intercollegiate Horse Show Association team won the National Championships in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Lindsay Clark, a Centenary Student, also won the USEF/Cacchione Cup.
The 2010 women's soccer team won the CSAC Championship, earning them an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The 2013 men's soccer team replicated this feat.

Notable alumni